No Simple Step for Justin Fields
Matt Eberflus' positive take on Justin Fields' offseason is easily surpassed by the unbridled optimism of adoring Bears fans.
In both cases, it might be better to chill out.
Eberflus' reaction is based on the work being done at OTAs, in shorts and helmets, without a chance Fields would be sacked and not with the consequences of game situations.
"You can see him going through his reads quicker reading the coverages on the snap and processing and where to go with the football," Eberflus said. "And again he's been working with his footwork and his release. He's been doing a great job with all of those things and we're excited with where he is right now."
Eberflus did admit some of this should have been anticipated by getting a second year in the same offense, with the same coaches, but part of the perceived improvement is for another reason.
"I think some of it expected just from the experience of last year but I would say this—that no one has worked harder than him in this offseason," Eberflus said.
This is good because Fields had a long way to go.
There were huge flaws in his game he needed to fix and they were very visible despite the occasional flash plays as a passer he had, the brilliant scrambles and planned runs or through his final 10 starts when he recorded a respectable passer rating of 92.2.
Every Bears player has flaws to fix. It's how they finished 3-14 last year. Fields has more than most as the origination point for their offense.
It's a reason why Fields ranked only 23rd on Chris Simms' quarterback rating list, 18th on Pro Football Focus' list and 16th for CBS Sports in 2023 when everyone is forecasting big things for him.
The simple truth is Fields might be better, but he has a very long way to go to respectability as a quarterback.
Here are his greatest flaws to fix in 2023 and in many cases there is no way to really know if he is better simply by watching OTA practices, whether you're the untrained eye or a coach.
Too Much Running
While some was planned, most was not. Fields ran the ball too much last year. The lack of proper receivers is often cited for this and now this, combined with better blocking and familiarity with coordinator Luke Getsy's attack, should allow him to throw it instead of running.
The fans loved all the running. The fantasy football fanatics especially like it and it has propelled Fields into the top seven in most ratings for fantasy football quarterbacks.
In the real world of football, it is not such an asset.
In fact, last year when Fields was running for a better rushing average or more times, it was often a detriment to the team.
Fields last year ran for 6.3 yards per attempt in eight games and the Bears lost every single one of them.
All three Bears wins came in games when Fields averaged 5.88 yards or less rushing. There were seven games when he averaged 5.88 or less.
Against Detroit, he averaged 13.2 and 11.3 yards rushing, against Green Bay he averaged 11.8 in one game and against Miami 11.9, yet the Bears lost every one of those games.
Carelessness
He'll have brief moments where he does things throwing the ball that make everyone wince and say "what are you doing?" Sometimes it's trying to make a play when it appears none is there to be made, but often none has to be made when he commits the error.
The perfect example: Fields threw three interceptions from inside his own 20-yard line. This tied him for the league high with Russell Wilson.
Waiting too long and then throwing it into difficult situations for receivers is part of the reason the Bears and Eberflus keep saying they need to see the ball come out faster.
It gets beaten to death, but his 3.12 seconds required time to throw reflected in NFL NextGen Stats is very relevant. It was the same time it took Jalen Hurts to throw until he got it down to the 2.7s last year. Fields needs to do this and when he does he won't be holding the ball while the defense is getting into better position to defend his receivers or pick off his passes.
Carelessness carries over into another area. Fields tied for most fumbles in the NFL last year with 16. Pro Football Focus actually gives him the title at 17 but the official NFL stat book for the Bears' loss to the New York Giants credits one of the fumbles PFF gave Fields to Justin Herbert.
It's often pointed out the Bears got the ball back after 14 of the 16 fumbles, and that there were 33 players who actually lost more fumbles than Fields, which is fine.
However, plays that end with the ball on the turf are dead at that point and it kills or helps kill drives even if the offense recovers it. Either way, it's putting the ball at risk and often the reason for it is carelessness on Fields' part with where he has the ball when running or when setting up to throw. It's in a place where opponents can easily attack it.
Better blocking can fix some of this. Not all of Fields' fumbles are coming when Braxton Jones lets him get blind-sided, or his left tackle wouldn't have been on the all-rookie team.
Fields can't afford to be so careless with the football. His 16 fumbles ties him for 15th all-time in most fumbles for a season.
He's often compared with Michael Vick because of his running ability and strong arm but Vick had a reputation for being a fumbler—of the top 25 fumblers of all time, Vick ranks in the top five for per game fumble percentage. Being like Vick in this way is no compliment.
Vick fumbled in 68.5% of the games he played.
Daunte Culpepper has the worst percentage all time for quarterbacks with at least 100 games at 96.2%, 102 fumbles in 106 games.
Fields has fumbled 28 times in 27 games. That's a percentage of 103.7%. Something has to change.
The Bottom Line
Fields has a steep mountain to climb after the passing inconsistency he displayed for two years.
The flash plays and perceived improvement late last year when he dropped his interception percentage, increased his TD percentage and averaged 63% completions with a 92.2 passer rating provide hope.
The only way he's going to improve the 5-20 win percentage and live up to what the Bears anticipate this year is if he continues to cut down on carelessness, passes more and runs less and lets the improved roster around him do what it's designed to do in this offense.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
